Sharron Pickle
Anthony Patton
BLYTHEWOOD – Town Council reinstated six board members on each of three town boards – the Planning Commission, the Board of Architectural Review and the Board of Zoning appeals – during their Oct. 27 meeting.
Council also voted to appoint the following three new board members: Sharron Pickle of Ashley Oaks to replace Scot Jeffers on the Board of Zoning Appeals; Anthony Patton of Lake Ashley to replace Susan Sorg on the Board of Architectural Review and Don Sanders of Cobblestone Park to replace Randy Humphries on the Planning Commission.
Rules for the Park
Council unanimously adopted rules recommended by the Town’s Park Committee for use of Doko Park and the playground. Rules for the park include prohibitions on fires, grilling, peddling/soliciting, open containers of alcohol, swimming in the pond, fishing from the bank, firearms and other dangerous weapons. It also prohibited tents in the Park except for Town sponsored events or a private event associated with rental of the Manor. A complete list of the rules and regulations for park and playground use is available at Town Hall and at townofblythewoodsc.gov.
Storm Water Program
In other business Council voted 5-0 to become a co-permittee with Richland County on a storm water management program in which the Town is being required to participate.
“Now that we have been designated a Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System by the State,” Town Administrator Gary Parker told Council members, “we need to apply for a permit, then manage a Storm Water Management Program. This is very difficult for a town this size with limited staff to be able to devote the necessary time to do the work required by such a program. But, fortunately, we can become a co-permittee with Richland County which does have the staff resources to conduct not only their county program but also the programs of municipalities within the County.”
Blythewood Mayor J. Michael Ross asked Parker if the Town could opt out of the program.
“It’s highly unlikely that we can,” Parker said. “We will pursue opting out, but we don’t have an answer about this.”
Paving Park Roads
After receiving three bids to finish paving the roads in Doko Park, Council voted 5-0 to accept Sloane Construction’s low bid of $172,317. The project calls for applying a 2-inch layer of Type C asphalt to approximately 183,619 square feet of road surface. The asphalt tonnage submitted by Sloane was 2,040 tons. According to Parker, the work must be started by Nov. 10 and completed by Dec. 19.
Exit 27 Landscape Bid
After a summer of neglect, the I-77 exit 27 landscaping is going to be maintained on a regular basis. At Monday evening’s Council meeting, Council voted 5-0 to hire Phoenix Landscape Management, a local landscape company to maintain the exit 27 interchange and the flower bed and trees in the median at the Fairfield County line.
Phoenix’s bid of $7,175, the lowest of four telephone bids, provides for a one-time weeding of all flower beds and trees at the exit 27/I-77 Interchange and the flower bed at the mile marker 34 median of I-77; install a pine straw around all trees at exit 27 and the flower bed in the median and a one-time trimming of bushes at the discretion of the Town. Price for this work will remain fixed for a one-year period.
Manor Rates Increased
Council accepted Parker’s recommendation to increase weekend rates at The Manor by 50 percent effective Jan. 1. Parker said the increase is in line with comparable facilities in the area. He said only three Saturdays, 25 Fridays and 44 Sundays are still available in 2015.
Booth Chilcutt, Events and Conference Director, reported that The Manor had its best month in October with 14 paid events for a total income of $9,958. He also announced newly proposed business rates for weekday rentals and a slight increase for community-based organizations which are also limited to a maximum of 6 hours on weekdays. Prices for equipment and security deposits are also slightly increased. Tablecloths and linens, previously provided by the facility are now the responsibility of lessees.
